Central and Eastern Europe Study Tours

Travel to Central and Eastern Europe with Heifer International. Heifer Study Tours are currently accepting applications for their sustainable community-based travel opportunities to Romania and Moldova and Poland.

Romania and Moldova
Trip Dates: September 2-13, 2010
Tour Size: 10-12 people
Fees: $2,500 + air-fare
Begins in Cluj, Romania and ends in Chisinau, Moldova
View Itinerary, Travel Information and Trip Overview
Application & Deposit Due: July 2, 2010
Tour Leader: Sara Drew, Study Tours Program Coordinator

Heifer's work in Europe dates back to post World War II, but with the growth of communism and the Cold War era, program development ceased. The communist years took farmland away from the people of Central and Eastern Europe. The majority of these countries continue to struggle today. Since its rebirth in 1992, the Central and Eastern European program of Heifer International has seen tremendous growth, stretching across Romania and into the neighboring countries of Moldova (since 2002) and Bulgaria (since 2007). In Romania and Moldova, Heifer supports small and rural farm families through livestock, agrotourism, microcredit and micro enterprise projects.  Through youth projects implemented in Romania and Moldova, more than 4,000 children, including orphans, hospitalized children and children with special needs, have gained skills in farming and improved their nutrition. Learn more about Heifer’s efforts by joining the Heifer Study Tour to Romania and Moldova. Apply Now.

Poland
Trip Dates: October 1-10, 2010
Tour Size: 12-14 people
Fees: $2,500 + air-fare
Begins in Wroclaw, Poland and ends in Krakow, Poland
View Itinerary, Travel Information and Trip Overview
Application & Deposit Due: August 2, 2010
Tour Leader: Heifer International Staff

The History of Heifer International in Poland goes back to the 1950's. After World War II, Poland received a valuable gift of heifers and horses from the United States, which helped farmers there rebuild their devestated herds of animals. With the growth of communism and the Cold War era, program development ceased. Heifer began working in Poland again in the late 1980's. Mining and timber industries were the main employers during the Communist era but those industries have since collapsed and environmental protection laws have been passed that limit certain agricultural and industrial activity. As a result, there is a high level of unemployment in rural areas. The focus of Heifer's work in these areas is environmentally friendly income generation, such as agro-tourism, organic farming, preservation and promotion of local vegetation and animal breeds and micro-enterprise development for traditional products. Learn more about Heifer’s efforts by joining the Heifer Study Tour to Poland. Apply Now.

Upcoming Tours To Central and Eastern Europe:
Study Tours to Central and Eastern Europe range from 10 to 16 days and fees average between $2,500 to $3,500 (plus travel fees to and from the country destination) per person.

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Previous Central and
Eastern Europe Trips
Take a look at these materials to learn from past participants’ experiences.

Read about the 2007 Lithuania/Latvia Study Tour
View the video from the 2005 Armenia Study Tour